‘Hot Cops’ show dangers of hot cars with demonstration in East Montgomery County

Jennifer Summer

Published 11:03 am, Tuesday, August 2, 2016

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The officers including Roman Forest Police Chief Stephen Carlisle, Precinct 4 Patrol Supervisor and PIO Jim Slack and MCSO Deputy Tommy Smith then climbed into the hot car outside of the Porter Fire Department station on Loop 494 to begin the experiment. less

Before the officers entered the vehicle, all of their vitals including their blood pressure, heart rate and temperature were checked to ensure they were normal and could participate in the experiment.

Before the officers entered the vehicle, all of their vitals including their blood pressure, heart rate and temperature were checked to ensure they were normal and could participate in the experiment.

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Officers from law enforcement agencies in the East Montgomery County area including Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Roman Forest Police Department and the Splendora Police Department joined forces for the “Hot Cop” initiative Tuesday, Aug. 2, to show the dangers of leaving children and/or animals in a hot car for any amount of time. less

Officers from law enforcement agencies in the East Montgomery County area including Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Roman Forest Police Department and ... more

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‘Hot Cops’ show dangers of hot cars with demonstration in East Montgomery County

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As the temperatures inside of the dark colored sedan rose from 129 degrees to close to 150 degrees in a matter of moments, the beads of sweat could be seen pouring from the faces and arms of three officers inside of the car.

When the three officers emerged from the sun-soaked vehicle after spending nearly 15 minutes in the hot car, their first words were, “I could barely breathe.”

Officers from law enforcement agencies in the East Montgomery County area including Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Roman Forest Police Department and the Splendora Police Department joined forces for the “Hot Cop” initiative Tuesday, Aug. 2 to show the dangers of leaving children, the elderly and/or animals in a hot car for any amount of time.

The purpose of the “Hot Cop” initiative is to show that all law enforcement agencies work together to save lives. Leaving anyone, including pets in hot cars can be hazardous to their health, even fatal.

“The importance of this is to be proactive; we don’t want to see this happen in our community,” Precinct 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden said during the exercise. “If we can do a demonstration like this and get the message out to others, maybe it will change something and change a life.”

According to Hayden, they have responded to instances where a person accidentally locked their door with an animal inside of the vehicle but have not had any heat-related deaths recently.

Before the officers entered the vehicle, all of their vitals including their blood pressure, heart rate and temperature were checked to ensure they were normal and could participate in the experiment.

The officers including Roman Forest Police Chief Stephen Carlisle, Precinct 4 Patrol Supervisor and PIO Jim Slack and MCSO Deputy Tommy Smith then climbed into the hot car outside of the Porter Fire Department station on Loop 494 to begin the experiment.

“You feel like your chest is caving in because the air was so thick and it was hot,” Smith said. “You have to manage your breathing because if not, you could hyperventilate. I have never sweated this much before; it was miserable. Nowadays, people are in such a hurry that they don’t even think about the effects of the hot sun on vehicles especially if they do not have tinted windows.

“People need to stop and think to make sure they bring their kids with them. I have two kids and would never leave them in a car for any amount of time; no one should be left in a car that is not on during the hot summer months.”

Carlisle likened the heat in the car to the heat in a dry sauna and that the heat caused his heart rate and blood pressure to increase which could be fatal to children and the elderly.

A majority of the experiment was filmed live for Facebook, but at one point, the heat caused for their phones to shut off causing them to rely on Carlisle’s body camera to record their reactions and the experience.

According to Montgomery County Hospital District Field Supervisor Joel Boswell, Slack’s temperature reached over 100 degrees which could be dangerous for anyone and the outcome from the experience showed that their temperatures, heart rates and blood pressure all increased which could be lethal for children.

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“This is important to see how an adult reacts in a hot car because a child is so much more vulnerable to the heat,” MCSO Lieutenant Joe Senn said. “I also think it is great to see local officers that people in our community know doing the demonstration because it can be more relatable.”